Rap Up: The son of a preacher man

What do multiaward-winning rapper AKA and a 23-year-old pastor's son studying theology have in common? Nothing.

Newcomer on the hip-hop scene, Kenneth Makopo jnr, better known as Jay Makopo, is happy to keep it that away .

Makopo is making industry hot shots sit up and take notice - and judging by his freestyling skills on his remixes of popular hip-hop hits such as Cassper Nyovest's Doc Shebeleza , KO's Caracara , Khuli Chana's Never Grow Up , and on his EP, Suicide Kids , it won't be long before he converts legions of music fans .

You would not immediately associate this God-fearing young man (who studied Youth Ministry at Hillsong International Leadership College in Sydney, Australia, and theology at the Cornerstone Institute in Cape Town), with calling out rappers in songs. But he isn't intimidated.

On his song Unreal, he addresses the removal of his freestyle remix of AKA's Congratulate on YouTube (which he said followed a complaint by AKA), spitting out: ''I don't expect or even want him to respond to this. I don't need him to confirm my skills are 'masterous'. I order body bags for all these rappers' carcasses. See, I'm an animal, I'm a hip hop-potamus."

On the track Home he raps: ''Man of my word, everything I say I carry through. I strangle competition, see their faces turning very blue. I make these rappers doubt themselves, call me Barry Roux. Revise all your aspirations, I don't need no affirmation, after they all hear this song, your fans will give salutations."

And on another song: ''That's your favourite rapper? Ooh I really sympathise, his hardest verse could never top the lines that I just improvised. Cockiness is the consequence of these compliments. Confidence is the consequence of my competence. You're on the line about my music, but it's common sense."

But, said Pretoria-born Makopo: ''Because of my upbringing and what I believe in, I try to use my music to uplift the listeners and inspire them to see more to life than what is perceptible .

''Some music keeps on the surface level, while I try to appeal on a more conscious level. Though it may not sound overly deep, I always try to throw in things for people to think about."

Makopo called his EP Suicide Kids because he wanted to speak to ''young people who are going through hard situations". He tells them: ''I gotta tell you that I've been there as well. You need to keep your head up, you've got a story to tell, let's go".

The young rapper is aware there is a lot of competition, which is why he is allowing free downloads of his songs for the moment. Makopo said he wants to grow a loyal fan base before he expects people to pay for his music.